Looking at today’s study which shows a third of young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs) fear they will never get a job, Professor Robin Simmons, an expert in the NEET phenomenon from the University of Huddersfield, argues that decent advice and guidance for young people is needed, as well as employment and education opportunities.

There is substantial evidence that funding for colleges and universities is an investment in the country’s future, both in terms of the ability to create jobs and help deliver social and economic equity. Currently spending on tertiary education by the UK is around 1.3% of gross domestic product. This compares to the average in OECD countries of 1.6%, with the UK well below leading economies such as the USA and Korea (2.6%), Canada (2.5%), Sweden (1.8%) and Japan (1.6%). We want the UK governments to take a lead in raising funding for tertiary education to the OECD average of 1.6% of GDP.

What our supporters say

“Real vision and real courage are needed to steer this country back to economic success – education, skills and knowledge are the keys to that success. Be brave! – celebrate Britain’s international reputation for education and sell it abroad. Use education as the rudder; not something to be jettisoned overboard.”